Former Nemacolin Country Club manager waives case to court

The former manager of Nemacolin Country Club, accused of embezzling more than a half-million dollars from the Centerville venue, waived his case to court Friday.

Brian Lee Simon, 35, of 1910 Jefferson Ave., Canton Township, arrived with his attorney at the office of District Judge Joshua Kanalis before his scheduled preliminary hearing to waive charges of forgery, identity theft, theft, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activity.

Simon was charged earlier this month by Trooper James Petrosky after a private investigator was hired by the club’s officers to look into the financial loss.

The private investigator determined Simon embezzled the money through the use of company checks that would be deposited into his personal account.

The alleged thefts happened between January 2007 and March. As manager, Simon controled the kitchen and dining areas, lounge, meeting rooms, administration and golf course.

Police indicated in court documents that Simon conducted the scheme in four separate ways. Simon would have checks issued to him for fictitious expenses. He would then cash and deposit those checks. He would also create checks to a person with no affiliation to the country club. Simon would then reportedly deposit those checks.

Simon also allegedly presented fraudulent invoices for items not received by the club. He also created checks for actual vendors that he would forge and deposit into his PNC account.

When asked Friday if Simon gave any reason for reportedly stealing the money, Petrosky said he would not comment on the investigation.

Simon, formerly of North Strabane Township, is also awaiting trial on charges of theft by failing to make required disposition of funds and theft for allegedly stealing more than $16,000 from the South Central Elementary School PTA. Simon, who was treasurer of the organization, was arrested in May by Canonsburg police. The money has since been repaid. Simon reportedly told Canonsburg police Sgt. Al Coghill that he needed the money to pay expenses for his ill father.

Simon is free on a $250,000 percentage bond. He was originally jailed on $529,647 bond, the amount of money he is accused of stealing from the club.